1919 — Dec 25-30, Wood Alcohol Poisoning, esp. Chicopee MA, Hartford CT, NJ –128-136

–150 Waterloo Courier, IA. “35 Under Arrest in Nutmeg State Booze Tragedies,” 1-1-1920, 1.*
–136 Blanchard high-end of death-toll range based upon State totals below.
–128 Blanchard low-end of death-toll range based upon State totals below.
–125 Steubenville Herald-Star, OH. “The Country Awaiting Reports…Poison Liquor,” 1-1-1920.
–~80 CT Valley. Republican Farmer, Bridgeport CT. “Paranelli Begs…State.” 1-2-1920, p. 4.
— 69 CT Valley. NYT. “Chief of Traffic in Wood Alcohol Reported Caught,” Dec 29, 1919.
— 60 Boston Sunday Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1.
— 57 AP. “Alcohol Deaths East Cause Score to be Arrested.” Waterloo Courier,” 12/30/19, 1.
— 57 Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” Dec 27, 1919, p. 1.
— 30 Eau Claire Leader, WI. “30 Are Dead from Drinking Wood Alcohol,” Dec 27, 1919, 1.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
* “Chicago, Jan. 1. – Authorities throughout the country today gravely waited reports from New Year’s eve revels for confirmation or refutation of their predictions that the wave of deaths from wood alcohol poisoning, which took a toll of 150 lives during the Christmas holidays, would be repeated.” [Blanchard note: we do not use number of 150 deaths in that we have not been able to substantiate via State breakouts.]

Summary of State Breakouts Below

Connecticut (17-18)
Illinois (10-14)
Massachusetts (54-57)
Michigan ( 1)
New Jersey ( 18)
New York ( 9)
Ohio ( 6)
Pennsylvania ( 12)
Wisconsin ( 1)
Totals 128-136

Breakout of “Christmas” Wood Alcohol Poisoning Deaths by State and Locality

Connecticut (17-18)
–18 State. Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
–17 State. Waterloo…Courier, IA. “35 Under Arrest in Nutmeg State…,” 1-1-1920, 1
–15 “ Boston Sunday Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” 12-28-1919, 1.
–15 “ UP. “247 Deaths Since Prohibition…,” Dunkirk Observer, NY, 12-29-1919, 1.
Breakout of alcohol poisoning deaths by locality:
— 2 Greenfield. Fort Gibson New Era. “Thirty-Seven Dead One Town,” Jan 1, 1920, p. 2.
— 1 “ Boston Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1.
–13 Hartford. UP. “Wood Alcohol…247 Deaths…,” Dunkirk Observer, 12-29-1919, 1.
–13 “ Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, p1.
— 8 “ Dec 25. Anniston Star, AL. “Poison Drink Causes Death of Eight Men,” 12-25-19, 1.
— 1 Meriden, Dec 28. Mrs. William G. Williams.
— 2 Thompsonville. Republican Farmer, Bridgeport CT. “Paranelli Begs…” 1-2-1920, p. 4.

Illinois (10-14)
–14 Chicago. Boston Globe. “Chicago Death Toll in Whisky Cases Reaches 14,” 12-31-1919, 3
–10 “ Evening Record, Greenville, PA. “Nine Held in Chicago,” 12-29-1919, p. 1.
— 9 “ AP. “Five Men Believed to ‘Ring Leaders’…” Titusville Herald, 12-29-1919, p. 1.
— 5 “ Oakland Tribune, CA. “Death List from Spurious Liquor Poisoning…,” 12-27-19.
— 4 “ Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, p. 1.
–10th “ Dec 28. Charles Simske, West Side saloon-keeper. [Wife and guest already dead.]

Massachusetts (54-57)
–57 State. UP. “247 Deaths Since Prohibition…,” Dunkirk Observer, NY, 12-29-1919, 1.
–54 “ Blanchard tally of locality breakouts from below.
–46 “ Boston Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1
Breakout by locality:
–37 Chicopee. Fort Gibson New Era. “Thirty-Seven Dead One Town,” Jan 1, 1920, p. 2.
–35 “ Boston Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1.
–35 “ Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, 1.
— 3 Hadley. Dunkirk Observer, NY. “247 Deaths Since Prohibition…,” 12-29-1919, 1.
–10 Holyoke Republican Farmer, Bridgeport CT. “Paranelli Begs…State.” 1-2-1920, p4.
–9 “ Fort Gibson New Era. “Thirty-Seven Dead One Town,” Jan 1, 1920, p. 2.
–6 “ Boston Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1.
–6 “ Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, 1.
— 4 Springfield. Boston Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” Dec 28, 1919, 1.
–3 “ Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, 1.

Michigan ( 1)
— 1 Detroit, Dec 30. AP. “Alcohol Deaths East…,” Waterloo Courier, IA. 12-30-1919, p. 1.

New Jersey (18)
–18 State Blanchard tally from
— 2 Jersey City, Dec 30. AP. “Alcohol Deaths East…,” Waterloo Courier, IA. 12-30-1919, p.1.
— 1 Jersey City Heights, Dec 28. NYT. “Chief of Traffic…Wood Alcohol…Caught,” 12-29-19.
— 5 Newark, by 27th. Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, p1.
— 3 “ Dec 28. NYT. “Chief of Traffic in Wood Alcohol Reported Caught,” 29 Dec 1919.
— 7 Passaic (by Dec 31st). Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Seven Deaths in Passaic…,” 12-31-1919, 1.
–6 “ Dec 30. Boston Globe. “Stocks of Saloons at Passaic, NJ, Seized, 12-31-1919, 3.

New York ( 9)
— 1 Brooklyn, Dec 30. AP. “Alcohol Deaths East…,” Waterloo Courier, IA. 12-30-1919, p. 1.
— 1 Buffalo, Dec 25. UP. “247 Deaths Since Prohibition…,” Dunkirk Observer, 12-29-1919, 1.
— 7 New York City, Dec 27-28.
–3 “ Dec 27. NYT. “Chief of Traffic in Wood Alcohol Reported Caught,” 12-29-19.
–4 “ Dec 28. NYT. “Chief of Traffic in Wood Alcohol Reported Caught,” 12-29-19.

Ohio ( 6)
–6 Cleveland. Oakland Tribune, CA. “Death List from Spurious Liquor Poisoning…,” 12-27-19
–3 “ Dec 26. Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, 1

Pennsylvania (12)
— 1 Chester, Dec 30. Titusville Herald, PA. “One Dead at Easton,” 12-29-1919, p. 1.
— 1 Easton. Dec 28. AP. “Alcohol Deaths East…,” Waterloo Courier, IA, 12-30-19, 1.
— 1 “ Titusville Herald, PA. “One Dead at Easton,” Dec 29, 1919, p. 1.
— 1 “ Dec 30. AP. “Alcohol Deaths East…,” Waterloo Courier, IA, 12-30-19, 1.
— 2 Emporium. Trenton…Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, 1.
— 4 Philadelphia, Dec 30. Boston Globe. “Alcohol Kills Four in Philadelphia House,” 12-31-19.
— 2 Pittsburg. Fort Gibson New Era. “Thirty-Seven Dead One Town,” 1-1-1920, p2.

Wisconsin ( 1)
— 1 Marinette. Fort Gibson New Era. “Thirty-Seven Dead One Town,” 1-1-1920, p2.

Narrative Information

Dec 26, UP: “Hartford, Conn., Dec. 26 (United Press). – With eight men dead and one seriously ill, as the result of drinking wood alcohol treated with coloring matter and sold for whiskey, Saul Joseph, Nathan Salzberg, Jacob Bronerwine and Frank Rose, all of Hartford, were arraigned in police court today charged with murder. They are alleged to have made the sales during the Christmas celebration….Following complaint to the police last night that one man had died and two more were reported dying in city hospitals, an investigation was started by the authorities which resulted in the arrest of three men found with a truckload of liquor near the saloons owned by Rose.” (Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Poison Whiskey Kills Eight in Yuletide Party,” 12-26-1919.)

Dec 26, Eau Claire Leader, WI: “Chicopee, Mass., Dec. 26—Thirty deaths had resulted tonight from the drinking of liquor brought in Hartford, Conn., and drunk in this city, Holyoke and Hartford. Yesterday, last night and today 14 men and one woman died in Chicopee, eight men in Hartford and four in Holyoke. Number of other men were in a critical condition tonight in hospitals.

“Four men were under arrest in Hartford and three in Chicopee pending the result of autopsies to be held late tonight. Police investigations in Hartford indicated that the liquor which was sent to that city from New York contained wood alcohol. State and federal authorities were aiding the police tonight in their effort to determine responsibility for the deaths.” (Eau Claire Leader, WI. “30 Are Dead from Drinking Wood Alcohol,” 12-27-1919, p. 1.)

Dec 28, Boston Sunday Globe: “While reports last night added hourly to the list of dead in Connecticut Valley cities and towns as a result of drinking wood alcohol contained in whiskey, Dist. Atty. Joseph B. Ely of Westfield announced that he had obtained definite information that the death drink was bought in Hartford.

“The death list early this morning stood at 60.

“Dist. Atty. Ely at Chicopee said that Alex Perry, proprietor of the American House in Chicopee Falls, had confessed to buying 50 gallons of the concoction in Hartford, all except five of which was sold. The district attorney also stated that five other gallons of the liquor had been traced to the Polski Hotel in Holyoke.

“According to the district attorney, who refused to grant bail of $10,000 to Perry earlier in the day on the charge of manslaughter, Perry stated he bought the liquor through Sam Darling of Hartford, an express man, who is under arrest in that city in connection with the deaths.

“The potion was delivered by automobile truck to Chicopee Christmas Eve, Mr. Perry said. In buying the liquor, Mr. Perry told the district attorney, he had no idea that it contained poisonous liquid. Following the confession, Dist. Atty. Ely allowed Mr. Perry to be released on bail.

“The liquor, which the district attorney says was sold in Holyoke, was bought from Rose’s saloon in Hartford, he says, and was delivered by John Starzyk of Holyoke. Five gallons of a quantity were sold, but upon receiving a warning from Hartford not to sell any more of the whisky, that remained was poured into a sewer. The five gallons not sold in Chicopee also were thrown into a sewer, Mr. Ely stated.

“Simultaneously came an announcement that Dist. Atty. Martin of Bronx County, New York, had received a telephone message from his assistant, who is in Hartford, stating that the barrel of wood alcohol ‘whisky’ which was responsible for a number of deaths there was originally bought from a Greenwich St. warehouse in New York. The liquor, he said, had been bought by a man from the Bronx, resold to Hartford parties and delivered by auto truck.

“The district attorney said he had the name of the man from whom the liquor was bought an of several others who were implicated in the deal. Detectives are now looking for them, the New York dispatches say.

“Arrests have been made in several Connecticut Valley cities and towns….

“Fatalities reported from wood alcohol poisoning in New England up to early this morning were as follows:

Chicopee, [MA] 35, including two women.
Holyoke [MA] 6.
Greenfield [MA] 1.
Hartford [CT] 13.
Springfield [MA] 4, including one woman.
Thompson, Conn. 1.”

(Boston Sunday Globe. “Trace Death Drink to New York Source,” 12-28-1919, p. 1.)

Dec 29, NYT: “United States Federal authorities have arrested three men in connection with the spreading of wood alcohol through five States in the last ten days. The arrests were made in two of the five boroughs late last night and early this morning. It was said by the Federal men that they had the ‘king pin’ of the ring that has been sending wood alcohol broadcast. Among the men arrested are two business men of this city. The prisoners are Adolph Panarell…a wine and liquor dealer…the Bronx; John Romanell, an undertaker…Brooklyn, and Samuel K. Saleeby, a druggist, of Brooklyn….

“The total deaths from the drinking of the mixture in the Connecticut Valley at a late hour last night was sixty-nine, having been increased by eight during the day….

“Five additional deaths and ten cases of critical illness were reported by the police yesterday. The total number of deaths since Nov. 1, in New York City now is thirty-five, but these figures, officials admit, are low because of faulty diagnoses on the part of physicians. The deaths in and near New York yesterday were:

Bahr, Walter J… Jersey City Heights.
Clink, Edward, 252 Fulton Street.
Massiello, Eugenio, 17 Spring Street.
McGowan, Michael, 75 East 127th Street.
Vaseihl, John, 125 West Street….

“The police placed the blame for many cases of illness on the great increase in the number of persons engaged or ostensibly engaged in the manufacture of perfume and cologne. It was said that in the last six months hundreds upon hundreds of permits have been granted by the office of Collector of Internal Revenue William H. Edwards to individuals to buy alcohol for making cologne. Instead of doing so, much of the alcohol was mixed with coloring matter and water and sold as whisky. Whereas, up to six months ago there were only a hundred firms in New York in the cologne business, it was reported that there are now two thousand such firms, the great majority having sprung up in the last six months….

“Here are the circumstances under which four men died yesterday of wood alcohol poisoning. Clink was one of the four men found on Saturday [27th] in Condon’s Fulton Street lodging house. Three of the men, William Graham, George Ahrens and Edward White died on Saturday, and Clink succumbed yesterday [28th] morning. Autopsies by Medical Examiner Charles Norris …revealed wood alcohol poisoning as the cause of the deaths….

“Three more deaths from wood alcohol were reported in Newark yesterday. One of the victims was a bartender. He was the second bartender to die from the poison in the last two days. The deaths yesterday brought the deal list in Newark up to nine for the last two weeks. The latest victims were:

Anton, Adam, 104 Monmouth Street.
Hostinsky, Adam, 20 College Place.
Fera, Charles, 71 River Street.”

(NYT. “Chief of Traffic in Wood Alcohol Reported Caught,” 12-29-1919.)

Dec 29: “New York, Dec. 29 – Three men – an undertaker, a druggist and a liquor death – faced charges before a United States Commissioner here this morning in connection with the spreading of wood alcohol as whiskey through five states in the last ten days, death and blindness following in its wake.

“The men arrested late last night and early today by Daniel L. Porter , supervising revenue agent here, and H. B. Dobbs, a federal agent, are:

Adolph Panarelli, a Manhattan wine and liquor dealer.
John Romanelli, a Brooklyn undertaker.
Samuel K. Saleeby, a Brooklyn druggist.

“Romanelli, according to Dobbs, is the ‘king ‘in’ in the wood alcohol traffic. Panarelli, who, according to the federal agents, made a clean breast of his part in handling the beverage, said, when arrested:

I am glad you got me. I will tell all I know, but for God’s sake don’t send me to Connecticut. I don’t want to be lynched. My name has been published in all the papers and it would mean certain death.

“The men are being held incommunicado during the 48 hours which will elapse before they are arraigned before a United States commissioner. Bail of $50,000 for immediate release of Panarelli already has been refused, Mr. Porter said. When the men are arraigned, Mr. Porter declared, he would ask the commissioner to set the bail at $50,000 for each defendant.

“Twenty revenue agents today made a careful search of the premises on Bleecker street occupied by Panarelli and took away with them everything that would have the slightest bearing on the case.

“According to Dobbs, Panarelli, in explanation, said that he had been approached by a man named Solsberg of Hartford, Conn., a friend of his, to procure some Christmas ‘booze.’ Panarelli then got into communication with Romanelli, Dobbs said, and finally Saleeby, the druggist.

“When interviewed by newspapermen at police headquarters, Panarelli said he believed that 20 barrels of the ‘whiskey’ had been shipped to Hartford, each barrel containing between 40 and 50 gallons. The price paid was from $1,000 to $1,500 a barrel.

“Two more cases of wood alcohol poisoning were reported today by the police. James Besman, 40 years old, was found unconscious on West 48th street last night and taken to a hospital, where his condition is reported as serious. Sarah Hart, 32, also was taken to a hospital but she will recover.

“New Haven, Dec. 29 – Interest in the wood alcohol ‘whiskey’ cases in this state centered today on police activities in connection with the sale of poisonous liquor. Fourteen persons are under arrest in Connecticut as a result of charges growing out of the distribution and sale of beverages said to contain wood alcohol.

“Marshall A. T. Caron of Chicopee, Mass., was here last night with warrants charging murder against four of the men arrested yesterday. Chief of Police Smith told the Massachusetts official that the men must remain in jail in New Haven until legal steps are taken for their extradition to Massachusetts. This may meet obstacles, as the police declare none of the men held here has been in the Bay State, although they are alleged to have shipped four barrels of liquor from New Haven to Chicopee.

“Dominick Perrotti, one of the six held here, is said by the police to have manufactured liquor in a still in Westville and sold it to Meriden saloonkeepers. The police are trying to connect the sale of this liquor with the death of Mrs. William G. Williams, in Meriden, yesterday.

“Four men charged with murder and three charged with transporting poisonous liquor in motor trucks, are held in Hartford, and a saloonkeeper in Thompsonville is under arrest.”

“Hartford, Conn., Dec. 29. – Saloons in Hartford closed today following a request from Chief of Police Garrett J. Farrell that they stop sales of every sort for an indefinite period because of wood alcohol poisoning in the Connecticut valley which up to this morning had resulted in nearly 80 deaths….

“Chicopee, Mass., Dec. 29 – Search was continued in this vicinity today for persons connected with the traffic in poisonous liquor which has resulted in the last few days in at least 57 deaths and many cases of serious illness here and nearby places. The death toll at an early hour today was divided as follows: Chicopee, 37, including 2 women; Holyoke, 10; Springfield, 4, including 1 woman; Hadley, 3; Greenfield, 1; and Thompsonville, Conn., 2.

“Fourteen arrests of those alleged to have handled the liquor, which was found to contain a wood alcohol base, have been made and others were expected. Most of the liquor, shipped from Hartford, Conn., to other Connecticut valley cities, has been accounted for, the authorities said, and they believed that few more cases of illness would be reported….

“Thompsonville, Conn., Dec. 29. – Leonard Montana, a liquor dealer, pleaded guilty today to the charge of making an illegal sale of liquor on December 22. Sentence was delayed until Friday awaiting possible action by the federal authorities in connection with the wood alcohol cases. His bond was fixed at $1,000. The arrest followed the two deaths from wood alcohol poisoning here. Montana bought five gallons of so-called whiskey in Hartford and this mixture is believed to have caused the death and also made two persons ill. The actual sale was to another saloonkeeper. John Vigmont, another liquor dealer charged with illegal sale, could not appear in court as he is ill from poisoning.” (Republican Farmer, Bridgeport CT. “Paranelli Begs That He Be Not Sent From Bronx To This State.” 1-2-1920, p. 4.)

Dec 29: “Springfield, Mass., Dec. 29. – United Press – Fifty-seven deaths from wood alcohol poisoning have occurred in Western Massachusetts since Christmas, state police said today. Of these, eight died yesterday – four in Holyoke, three in Hadley and one in Chicopee.

“Fourteen men have been arrested in this vicinity in connection with the deaths from poisoned liquor. Five of the arrests were made in New Haven, Conn., following alleged discovery of a still on the farm of Vincenzo Perrott in Westville, a suburb of New Haven. The authorities said they found several barrels of cider, wine and wood alcohol at the still.

“Hartford, Conn., Dec. 29. – With the death toll from wood alcohol poisoning in Hartford county standing at 15, States Attorney Alcorn has appealed to the authorities of the various towns and cities to have all saloons closed for an indefinite period. In Hartford city the death total still stands at 13. Thompsonville reports an additional death, making two there since Saturday. Meriden reports the death of a woman and one blinded and in a serious condition…

“Buffalo, Dec. 26. — The death of Oliver Cranshaw, 24 at No. 204 Clinton street Sunday, was the second fatality from wood alcohol poisoning to occur in Buffalo since prohibition went into effect. At Jamestown, N.Y., seven deaths have occurred in the same time from wood alcohol poisoning.” (UP. “247 Deaths Since Prohibition…Last July…,” Dunkirk Observer, NY, 12-29-1919, p. 1.)

Dec 30: “Chicago, Dec. 30—The 14th death in Chicago since Christmas from the effects of drinking wood alcohol was reported to the police today. The victim had been unconscious since participating in a Christmas eve party. City officials who today began investigation of the wave of death declared that Federal legislation would be necessary to stamp out the evil.

“Health Commissioner Robertson suggested that Congress immediately enact laws requiring registration at wholesale drug houses of all wood alcohol purchases; requiring all dealers to use poison labels printed in every language on every bottle sold and providing for prison terms for wholesalers and retailers who violate these requirements.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Chicago Death Toll in Whisky Cases Reaches 14,” 12-31-1919, p. 3.)

Dec 30: “By the Associated Press. Chicopee, Mass., Dec. 30. – Twenty arrests had been made today in this state and Connecticut in connection with the distribution of liquor containing wood alcohol, which caused the death of at least 57 men and women in this vicinity since Christmas. Five men arrested in New Haven charged with manslaughter were brought to this city early today for arraignment after they had been rushed across the state border by federal officers and turned over to the state police. Their removal from New Haven preceded the arrival there of a writ of habeas corpus for their release by a few minutes. The five men were arraigned in police court today charged with murder. All pleaded not guilty and were held without bail for a hearing Jan. 3.

“Easton, Pa., Dec. 30. – John Malatti, 47 died last night from the effects of poisoned whisky. He became blind two hours before he died. Malatti drank with Joseph Zimmer, a local man, who died on Sunday, some of the liquor which he said they bought from Peter Casella and wife, who are under arrest.”

“New York, Dec. 30. – Another death believed to have been caused by wood alcohol ‘whisky’ was reported in Brooklyn early today in a hospital there after four days illness.

“Jersey City, N.J., Dec. 30. – Two deaths from wood alcohol poisoning were reported here today. The victims were John Reynolds and Mrs. Mary Ward….

“Detroit, Mich., Dec. 30. – The first death here from wood alcohol poisoning since the wave of fatalities following its sale as a beverage was reported by the police here today. The victim’s wife, according to the police theory, sent him a bottle of liquor from New York.

“New York, Dec. 30. – Sales for drinking purposes of alcohol originally intended for making perfume have come to light in Harlem and prosecutions are pending….” (Associated Press. “Alcohol Deaths East Cause Score to be Arrested.” Waterloo Courier,” 12-30-1919, p. 1.)

Dec 30: “Passaic, N.J., Dec 30 – A city-wide raid on the saloons of Passaic was made by the police tonight after six deaths had been reported during the day from wood alcohol poisoning….Michael Molnar and Joseph Bliss were tonight’s victims of the poison. Molnar’s wife died in the General Hospital yesterday from wood alcohol poisoning and the police believe that the husband not knowing what had caused the woman’s ailment, took a drink of the liquor at his home this morning. He later went blind. John Preechnewicz, a tailor, told his wife just before he died that he had taken two drinks in a saloon and when the police investigated they found the proprietor, Joseph Sudol, and his brother in St Mary’s Hospital, both poisoned and the saloon keeper blind. If he recovers, which is unlikely, the police say he will be charged with manslaughter. According to the police, Sudol has been selling home-made ‘whisky’. Joseph Cigaro, 50, a mill hand, Martin Dudack and Stephen Bliss are the other three men whose deaths today were attributed to wood alcohol poisoning.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Stocks of Saloons at Passaic, NJ, Seized,” 12-31-1919, p. 3.)

Dec 30: “Philadelphia, Dec 30 – Three women and a man were found dead in a rooming house tonight from alcoholic poisoning, but whether it was due to wood alcohol has not been determined by the authorities….The police believe the four have been dead since Saturday when they were last seen. In the room were found an empty whisky bottle, a beer bottle and a vial that contained a liniment. The finding of the four bodies raised the number of dead in Philadelphia and vicinity today to six.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Alcohol Kills Four in Philadelphia House,” 12-31-1919, p.3.)

Dec 31: “New York, Dec. 31 (Associated Press) –U.S. Marshall Power announced tonight that he believed that he had discovered the wood alcohol ‘whisky’ manufacturing headquarters of John Romanelli, Brooklyn undertaker, and Samuel Salaby, Brooklyn druggist, held here in connection with the distribution of poison liquor throughout New England. The place was a Brooklyn garage, he said. Receptacles and chemicals used in the manufacture of liquor and perfumes, several empty barrels which ‘had contained wood alcohol’ and some burned sugar were found by the marshal, Chief Deputy Marshal Dowden, and Internal Revenue Inspector Gardner, the announcement said. All these things were seized and persons upon the premises were taken to United States District Attorney Ross’ offices for examination. Among other things found in the garage were a three-quart bottle labeled ‘medicated alcohol, poison, for external use only. Salaby’s drug store’….

“The raiders were told that men had been working in the garage every night recently from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. mixing and bottling the ‘whisky’ which was distributed from the place….” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Think Garage Was Scene…Manufacture…Wood Alcohol…,” 1-1-1920, p. 1)

Dec 31: “Philadelphia, Dec 31. – An organized gang, similar to the band operating in New York, is responsible for the distribution of ‘liquid death’ here. This opinion was expressed by Coroner Knight today as he took personal charge of a sweeping investigation into the death of four persons who were found dead last night, supposedly from wood alcohol.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “More Liquid Deaths,” 1-1-1920, p.1.)

Jan 1, 1920: “Chicago, Jan 1 (Associated Press)—Authorities throughout the country today gravely awaited reports from New Year’s eve revels for confirmation or refutation of their predictions that the wave of deaths from wood alcohol poisoning, which took a toll of approximately 125 lives during the Christmas holidays, would be repeated.” (Steubenville Herald-Star, OH. “The Country Awaiting Reports…Poison Liquor,” 1-1-1920.)

Jan 1, 1920. New Haven, Conn., Jan. 1 (AP) – Thirty-five men were under arrest in Connecticut today as a result of investigation of the federal, state and city officials into the wave of fatalities and illness caused by drinking poison whisky. The death toll in the state was 17.” (Waterloo Evening Courier, IA. “35 Under Arrest in Nutmeg State Booze Tragedies,” 1-1-1920, p.1)

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Titusville Herald, PA. “More Liquid Deaths,” 1-1-1920, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=105957492

Titusville Herald, PA. “One Dead at Easton.” 12-29-1919, p. 1. Accessed 1-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-dec-29-1919-p-1/

Titusville Herald, PA. “Think Garage Was Scene of Manufacture of Wood Alcohol Whiskey in N.Y.,” 1-1-1920, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=105957492

Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Alcohol Victims Now 126,” 12-27-1919, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=12091895

Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Poison Whiskey Kills Eight in Yuletide Party,” 12/26/1919, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=12091855

Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Seven Deaths in Passaic; 3 Held,” 12-31-1919, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=12091981

United Press. “Wood Alcohol Is Blamed for 247 Deaths.” Dunkirk Observer, NY, 12-29-1919, p.1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37994154

Waterloo Evening Courier, IA. “35 Under Arrest in Nutmeg State Booze Tragedies,” 1-1-1920, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=94111622